Mutharika cancels AU summit trip: ‘Cost-cutting measure’

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has cancelled his trip to Equatorial Guinea where he was expected to attend the 23rd ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, as a cost-cutting measure.

A brief statement from the State House Press Office says the decision has been made to save money due to the current financial situation in government.

“The President assures all Malawians of his Personal and Malawi’s steadfast commitment to the African Union” reads the statement.

Mutharika: No globetrotting

President Mutharika was voted in as Malawi’s President over three weeks ago and has so far never made any international trip that eats too much into the country’s coffers.

He is applying economic austerity measures in the wake of the cashgate scandal and the subsequent freeze in budgetary support from the country’s major donors.

The previous PP administration suspended all internal and foreign travel by government officials and by extension to the President. Former president Joyce Banda was criticised for her frequent internal and external travels.